Apparatus for producing a coffee beverage and method of filling the receptacle of said apparatus

ABSTRACT

The apparatus for producing a coffee beverage comprises an automatic coffee machine and a receptacle that can be docked with the beverage spigot of the machine in filling position, the receptacle having a mechanism that is detectable by a sensor mechanism in the machine when the receptacle attains the filling position, the sensor mechanism being in communication with the control unit of the coffee machine in such a way that, when it detects the detectable mechanism, it automatically sends the control unit a signal to switch the coffee machine to an operating mode that consecutively executes one or more operating cycles for filling of the receptacle.

The present invention refers to an apparatus for producing a coffeebeverage and a method of filling the receptacle of said apparatus.

It is known that traditional automatic coffee machines are used toproduce a considerable quantity of coffee beverage which is necessary tofill a thermal receptacle for the subsequent apportioned consumption ofthe beverage.

In this scenario the user programs an operation cycle, and at the end ofexecution of the operation cycle the user programs a further operationcycle and so on, until the desired amount of beverage has been obtained.

It is clear that this process requires time which is not alwaysavailable to the user, as well as requiring continual attention andchecking and also a certain facility for manipulation for the entiretime that the coffee machine is operating.

The technical purpose that the present invention offers is, therefore,that of implementing an apparatus for producing a coffee beverage and amethod of filling the receptacle of said apparatus which togethereliminate the inconvenient tasks reported in the state of the art.

Within this technical purpose, one objective of the invention is toimplement an apparatus for producing a coffee beverage and a method offilling the receptacle of said apparatus which together result in theautomated filling of the receptacle to the desired level, withoutneeding to keep the user occupied for the entire time the coffee machineis operating, and without requiring any special care or attention orfacility on the part of the user.

Another objective of the invention is to implement an apparatus forproducing a coffee beverage and a method of filling the receptacle ofsaid apparatus which together are safe and reliable.

The technical purpose, in addition to these and other objectives,according to the present invention are achieved by implementing anapparatus for producing a coffee beverage which conforms to claim 1, anda method of filling the receptacle of said apparatus which conforms toclaim 16.

Other characteristics of the present invention are also defined in thesubsequent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be moreevident from the description of a form of execution, which is preferredbut not exclusive, of the apparatus for producing a coffee beverageaccording to the invention, illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus that conforms to a firstpreferred means of implementing the invention, in which the receptacleis in position to be filled;

FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of an apparatus that conforms to a secondpreferred means of implementing the invention, before placing thereceptacle in the coffee machine;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the apparatus in FIG. 2, in which thereceptacle is in position to be filled;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the receptacle of any of the implementations ofthe invention illustrated in the previous figures, in which the lid isin the position that prevents the attainment of the filling position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the receptacle in FIG. 4, in which the lid isin the position that allows the attainment of the filling position, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the coupling area between thereceptacle lid and the beverage supply spigot of the machine in any ofthe implementations of the invention illustrated in the previousfigures,

With reference to the cited figures, an apparatus is shown for producinga coffee beverage and this apparatus is referred to in general with thereference number 1.

Apparatus 1 comprises an automatic coffee machine 2 and a receptacle 3,preferably in thermally insulating material, which can be placed inposition for filling from the beverage spigot 4 of the coffee machine 2.

The receptacle 3 has detectable parts and the coffee machine has asensor mechanism suitable for detecting the detectable parts when thereceptacle 3 attains the correct filling position.

Preferably, the sensor mechanism comprises a reed sensor 5 and thedetectable parts comprise a permanent magnet 6 affixed to the upper partand on the lateral surface of the receptacle 3.

The detection of the correct positioning of the receptacle 3 can also beimplemented by other systems, for example the sensor mechanism couldcomprise a capacitive sensor or an RFID reader and the detectable partscould comprise, respectively, a suitable mechanical organ or atransponder.

Advantageously the sensor mechanism is in communication with the controlunit (not shown) of the coffee machine 2 in such a way that, when itdetects the detectable parts, it automatically sends a signal to thecontrol unit which switches the coffee machine 2 to an operating modethat consecutively executes a number of operation cycles to fill thereceptacle 3.

For this purpose the push-button panel 22 of the coffee machine 2 has abutton 30 to program the number of consecutive operation cycles of thecoffee machine.

In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 the reed sensor 5 is affixed tothe inspection panel 18 of the coffee machine 2 and is connected byelectrical wires 19 to the control unit of the coffee machine.

In the implementation shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, however, the reed sensor 5is affixed to the fascia 20 of the coffee machine 2, where the display21 and the push-button panel 22 of the coffee machine 2 are present.

In this case there is a transmission lever 23 with fulcrum at 24 on theinspection panel 18 of the coffee machine.

The transmission lever 23 has a first lever arm 25 that has a secondpermanent magnet 26 suitable for interacting with the permanent magnet 6when in a first angular position of the transmission lever 23 (FIG. 2),and a second lever arm 27 with a third permanent magnet 28 suitable forinteracting with the reed sensor when the transmission lever 23 is movedto a second angular position (FIG. 3) as a consequence of the magneticinteraction between the permanent magnet 6 and the second permanentmagnet 26.

In this case the electrical connection wires between the reed sensor 5and the coffee machine control unit 2 do not move during theopening/closing of the inspection panel 18 and can be kept integral on along term basis.

The receptacle 3 has a handle 8, a spout 32 for pouring out thecontents, and a lid 7 fitted in its turn with a pad 9.

The lid 7 can be rotated in its circular depression in the top surfaceof the receptacle 3.

Specifically, the top surface of the receptacle 3 is shaped with aringed perimeter lip 11, suitable for containing the lateral movement ofthe lid 7 and guiding it in its rotation around the central axis 13 ofthe lid 7.

From the lip 11 an upper retaining blade 12 and a lower retaining blade14 extend radially towards the inside of the receptacle 3, and betweenthese a perimeter blade 15 of the lid 7 is held and can slide, toprevent the removal of the lid from the receptacle 3.

The lip 11 has an interruption 16 corresponding to the area where itmeets the spigot 4.

The receptacle 3 also has a slide 17, just below the lid 7 in the areawhere it meets the spigot 4, for the beverage entering the receptacle 3.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention the correct fillingposition of the receptacle 3 corresponds to an area within the lid 7.

Advantageously the lid 7 has a mechanism 18 that allows attainment ofthe correct filling position.

Specifically the position attainment mechanism 18 comprises a recess 31in the perimeter edge of the lid 7 into which the spigot 4 can bepositioned.

Advantageously when the orientation of the lid 7 is at the correctfilling position there is an open passage for the beverage from outsideto inside the receptacle 3 (and vice versa) via the recess 31, and inevery other orientation of the lid 7 this passage is closed in such away as to limit the dispersal of heat from the receptacle 3.

There is a closing flange 33 in the recess 31, which runs along theinternal perimeter of the top surface of the receptacle 3 and causes therecess 31 to close when the latter is not aligned with the slide 17.

The method of filling the receptacle 3 is briefly as follows.

The user pushes down the pad 9 and by acting on it rotates the lid 7until the recess 31 is aligned with the interruption 16 in the lip 11.

In this position the recess 31 overlays the slide 17 and the passageleading to the inside of the receptacle 3 is open.

The user moves the receptacle 3 to insert the spigot 4 into the recess31 with the established orientation of the lid 7 to allow thisinsertion.

Any other orientation of the lid 7 will not allow the insertion of thespigot 4 into the recess 31.

Only when the spigot 4 is inserted in the recess 31 will the permanentmagnet 6 be within the range of the reed sensor 5 which can thus detectit and consequently signal the presence of the receptacle 3 in thecorrect filling position to the control unit of the coffee machine 2.

In a filling position that is not correct, the spigot 4 will insteadcome up against the circumferential perimeter of the lid 7 and stop,keeping the permanent magnet 6 outside the range of the reed sensor 5.

When the control unit of the coffee machine 2 ascertains the presence ofthe receptacle 3 in the correct filling position, it automaticallyinitiates two procedures: firstly it displays a series of interrogationmessages on the display 21, including messages to check that there iswater in the water reservoir of the coffee machine 2 and/or to check forthe presence of used grounds in the coffee ground collection drawer ofthe coffee machine 2 and/or to check for the presence of coffee beans inthe coffee bean funnel of the coffee machine 2; secondly it switches thecoffee machine 2 to an operating mode that will consecutively execute anumber of operation cycles.

The user at this point performs the checks indicated in theinterrogation messages that were previously displayed and then programsthe number of operation cycles depending on how much the receptacle isto be filled.

Each press of the programming button 30 after the first presscorresponds to an incremental request of one dose (single or double) ofbeverage.

For example, a single press will fill the receptacle 3 with one dose,two consecutive presses means two doses, three consecutive presses meansthree doses, and so on.

When filling of the receptacle 3 is complete, by removing the receptacle3 from the filling position the permanent magnet 6 leaves the range ofthe reed sensor 5 so that a signal is sent to the control unit of thecoffee machine 2 to switch it back into the traditional operating mode.

The apparatus conforming to the present invention has intrinsic safetyfeatures in that the continuous operating mode is activated only if thereceptacle is in the correct filling position.

Filling of the receptacle is done in a simple and automatic way withoutthe user needing to have any special abilities or dexterity.

The invention also detects a receptacle consisting of a cup or mug forcoffee, tea, cappuccino, hot chocolate and other beverages, if it has aunidirectional or bidirectional system of communicating with a coffeemachine.

The communication system has a means of attributing a specific identityto the cup or mug. The attributed identity can be recognised by thecoffee machine in such a way as to put it into operation with a specificoperating program to produce a specific beverage associated with thespecific identity of the mug or cup recognised by the coffee machine.

The means of attributing identity comprises a generator of electrical,magnetic or electromagnetic signals containing an identification code ofthe cup or mug and which can be detected by a suitable detectorconnected to the control unit of the coffee machine.

Once the identity of the cup or mug has been detected, the control unitprograms the coffee machine with the specific program associated withthe detected identity. In this way the cups or mugs can be customised inthat they are able to automatically order the production of theirowner's preferred beverage (e.g. cappuccino, macchiato, long coffee,strong coffee etc.) from the coffee machine.

The identification code can be reprogrammed in the event that the ownerof the cup or mug changes or wishes to change their favourite beverage.

The reprogramming can be done directly by means of the coffee machine,if the communication system is bidirectional.

The cup or mug can have the signal generator embedded in its body, forexample in its base, and the sensor can be built into the plate wherethe cup or mug is placed for filling. In this case, the plate may bearan indication for correct positioning of the cup or mug (for example agraphic sign) or a centring element that ensures the cup or mug isplaced in the correct position (for example a depression or relief onthe plate in which the cup or mug is to be placed).

The apparatus for producing a coffee beverage thus conceived may besubject to numerous modifications and variants, all of which fall withinthe scope of the inventive concept; in addition all the details may bereplaced by elements that are technically equivalent.

In practice the materials used may be of any type, and the dimensions aswell, in accordance with the requirements and with the state of the art.

1. An apparatus for producing a coffee beverage characterized by thefact that it comprises an automatic coffee machine and a receptacle thatcan be docked with a beverage spigot of said machine in a fillingposition, said receptacle presenting mechanisms that are detectable bysensor mechanisms of said machine when said receptacle attains saidfilling position, said sensor mechanisms being in communication with acontrol unit of said coffee machine in such a way that, when said sensormechanisms detect said detectable mechanisms, said sensor mechanismsautomatically send said control unit a signal to switch said coffeemachine to an operating mode that consecutively executes one or moreoperation cycles to fill said receptacle; wherein said receptacle has alid comprising a recess in the perimeter edge of said lid in which saidspigot can be positioned.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that said sensor mechanisms comprise a reedsensor and said detectable mechanisms comprise a permanent magnet. 3.The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that saidsensor mechanisms comprise a capacitive sensor.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said sensormechanisms comprise an RFID sensor.
 5. The apparatus according to claim1, characterized by the fact that said filling position corresponds toan internal area of said lid.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that said lid can be rotated within its owncircular depression made in a top portion of said receptacle.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that saidmachine has a display connected to said control unit for displayinginterrogation messages upon attainment of said filling position, saidinterrogation messages including verification of water in a waterreservoir of said coffee machine and/or verification of used grounds ina coffee ground collection drawer of said coffee machine and/orverification of coffee beans in a coffee bean funnel of said coffeemachine.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by thefact that said reed sensor is fixed to an inspection panel of saidcoffee machine.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized bythe fact that said permanent magnet is affixed to an upper part and on alateral side of said receptacle.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 2,characterized by the fact that said reed sensor is affixed to a fasciaof said coffee machine.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 2,characterized by the fact that said machine has a transmission leverwith a fulcrum attached to an inspection panel of said coffee machine,said transmission lever having a first lever arm having a secondpermanent magnet suitable for interacting with said permanent magnetwhen in a first angular position of said transmission lever, and asecond lever arm having a third permanent magnet suitable forinteracting with said reed sensor when said lever is moved to a secondangular position as a consequence of the interaction between said magnetand said second magnet.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that said receptacle is in a thermallyinsulating material.